Single Piece Vehicle Control Surface and Associated Systems and Methods of Manufacture
A method of manufacturing a vehicle control surface includes generating, using an electronic controller, a three-dimensional plan for the vehicle control surface. The three-dimensional plan includes, at least, non-vehicular support structure dimensions, for a non-vehicular support structure, and skin dimensions for a skin. The method further includes configuring the dimensions of the non-vehicular support structure based on build environment characteristics associated with an additive manufacturing process of the control surface. The additive manufacturing process is based on the three-dimensional plan. The method further includes fabricating the vehicle control surface, using the additive manufacturing process, based on the three-dimensional plan.
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The present disclosure relates generally to vehicle control surfaces, along with systems and methods for manufacturing such vehicle control surfaces. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to single piece vehicle control surfaces and associated systems and methods of manufacture that utilize additive manufacturing processes.
BACKGROUNDVehicle control surfaces, such as airfoils for aircraft, hydrofoils for watercraft, and the like, are essential to the functionality of their respective vehicles. To that end, construction of vehicle control surfaces are often constricted by and/or designed in accordance with standards for rigidness and/or wear prevention. Accordingly, design and manufacture of vehicle control surfaces can be performed, with such standards in mind, using a variety of systems and methods of manufacture.
Some example systems and methods of manufacturing vehicle control surfaces utilize additive manufacturing, also commonly referred to as three-dimensional (3-D) printing, to construct component parts of a vehicle control surface, for assembly. Utilizing additive manufacturing in construction of vehicle control surfaces allows for a near limitless amount of design options and allows a designer and/or manufacturer to generate vehicle control surfaces out of a wide variety of suitable materials (e.g., alloys, thermoplastics, etc.). Further, by utilizing additive manufacturing in constructing vehicle control surfaces, costly, previously-utilized construction methods, such as metal casting, may be avoided, thus allowing for cost savings.
However, utilizing additive manufacturing in constructing vehicle control surfaces may introduce new construction issues based on these methods of manufacture. For example, if the vehicle control surface is to be additively manufactured in multiple parts, fasteners and/or joining between such parts may be susceptible to fatigue and/or unwanted stresses. Further, characteristics inherent to the manufacturing environment of an additive manufacturing process may need to be addressed in the design of a vehicle control surface; otherwise, a manufacturer may be at risk of part failure of such vehicle control surfaces, either during the build or during use. Additionally, for greater part performance in operation of a greater vehicle with which such control surfaces are used, it is imperative that the surfaces are of the lightest possible weight; however, in some current, known additive manufacturing processes, light weight vehicle control surfaces may be difficult or impossible to manufacture, due to part failure of thin components, such failure occurring during the manufacturing process. Accordingly, single-piece, light weight, additively manufactured vehicle control surfaces, along with systems and methods for manufacturing such vehicle control surfaces, which account for environmental characteristics of an additive manufacturing process, are desired.
SUMMARYIn accordance with one example, a method of manufacturing a vehicle control surface is disclosed. The vehicle control surface includes, at least, a non-vehicular support structure and a skin. The method includes generating, using an electronic controller, a three-dimensional plan for the vehicle control surface. The three-dimensional plan includes, at least, non-vehicular support structure dimensions, for the non-vehicular support structure, and skin dimensions for the skin. The method further includes configuring the dimensions of the non-vehicular support structure based on build environment characteristics associated with an additive manufacturing process of the control surface. The additive manufacturing process is based on the three-dimensional plan. The method further includes fabricating the vehicle control surface, using the additive manufacturing process, based on the three-dimensional plan.
In accordance with another example, an airfoil, which is manufactured as a single workpiece in an additive manufacturing process, is disclosed. The airfoil includes a skin, the skin being manufactured, via the additive manufacturing process, based on skin dimensions for the skin. The skin dimensions are included in a three-dimensional plan for the airfoil that is used in the additive manufacturing process. The airfoil further includes a non-vehicular support structure that is manufactured, via the additive manufacturing process, based on support dimensions for the non-vehicular support structure. The non-vehicular support structure dimensions are included in the three-dimensional plan and are configured based on build environment characteristics associated with the additive manufacturing process of the airfoil. The non-vehicular support structure is removable from the airfoil upon completion of the additive manufacturing process.
In accordance with yet another example, a system for manufacturing a vehicle control surface, via an additive manufacturing process, is disclosed. The vehicle control surface includes, at least, a non-vehicular support structure and a skin. The system includes a controller, that includes a processor and a memory. The controller is configured to generate a three-dimensional plan for the vehicle control surface, based on one or both of instructions stored on the memory and user input, the three-dimensional plan including, at least, non-vehicular support structure dimensions for the support structure and skin dimensions for the skin. The controller is further configured to configure the dimensions of the non-vehicular support structure based on build environment characteristics associated with the additive manufacturing process, the additive manufacturing process based on the three-dimensional plan. The controller is further configured to generate fabrication instructions, based on the three-dimensional plan, for executing the additive manufacturing process. The system further includes 3-D printer operatively associated with the controller. The 3-D printer including a base plate, upon which a build for the vehicle control surface rests during fabrication, and a powder supply for providing a powdered material to the base plate for each successive layer of the build. The 3-D printer further includes a heat source configured to selectively heat the powdered material to form the build, in a series of layer-wise iterations, and configured to operate in accordance with a toolpath for the heat source to selectively heat the powdered material, for each of the series of layer-wise iterations, the toolpath based, at least, on the fabrication instructions.
While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative examples thereof will be shown and described below in detail. The disclosure is not limited to the specific examples disclosed, but instead includes all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONTurning now to the drawings and with specific reference to
The system 10 is illustrated in a more detailed block diagram in
The 3-D printer 50 employs a laser 54 to selectively heat portions of a powdered material 64 to form the workpiece 60, in a series of layers 62, during a series of layer-wise iterations of the laser 54. In some examples, the laser 54 is powered by a power source 56, which may vary the level of power based on an output temperature desired for the laser 54. “Layer-wise,” generally, refers to the manufacturing of a structure by subdividing the construction into a series of layers and compiling the structure as a series of layers. Each of such a series of layers is performed iteratively by the 3-D printer 50, and, therefore the object 60 is formed in a series of layer-wise iterations. For performing the selective heating, the laser 54 may be any selective heating laser, such as a powder bead fusion laser for performing powder bead fusion. The powdered material 64 may be any type of material that can be selectively heated to form the workpiece 60, which may include, for example, metallic alloys (e.g., Titanium alloys), thermoplastics, and/or any suitable material for additive manufacturing. The powdered material 64 may further include any additives known in the art to aid in bonding, stiffening, or otherwise provide structural support in the manufacturing process of the workpiece 60.
The series of layer-wise iterations of the laser 54 may be controlled in accordance with instructions stored on a memory 23 associated with the controller 20. Prior to each layer-wise iteration of the laser 54, a roller 68 lays a powder layer of the powdered material 64 over a base plate 52, on which the workpiece 60 will rest during 3-D printing. The powdered material 64 may be provided to the roller 68 for spreading by one or more powder beds 66.
After each iteration of the laser 54, the base plate 52 may be lowered by a layer height. Then, another powder layer 64 may be laid over the base plate 52 so that the next iteration of the laser 54 may occur. After each iteration, excess powdered material 64 may remain on the base plate 52 and/or on or within the workpiece 60.
Each layer 62 of the workpiece 60 is selectively heated such that it fuses with the previously heated layer 62. The 3-D printer 50 may continue this process for however many layers 62 are required to manufacture the workpiece 60. Once manufacturing is completed, the workpiece 60 may be removed from the 3-D printer 50. In some examples, the workpiece 60 and/or components thereof may be fused to the base plate 52. In such examples, the workpiece 60 may then be detached from the base plate 52 using, for example, the EDM device 75.
As will be discussed in greater detail below, the controller 20 is configured to generate 3-D plans for the 3-D printer 50 and configure dimensions associated with such 3-D plans. To that end, such 3-D plans may be determined based on models read and/or determined by a processor 21 of the controller 20, stored input data 27 for 3-D plans, user input provided by a user 29 to input device(s) 25, and any combinations thereof. The controller 20 may be any electronic controller or computing system including a processor which operates to perform operations, execute control algorithms, store data, retrieve data, gather data, and/or any other computing or controlling task desired. The controller 20 may be a single controller or may include more than one controller disposed to control various functions of the 3-D printer 50 and/or any other elements of or associated with the system 10. Functionality of the controller 20 may be implemented in hardware and/or software and may rely on one or more data maps relating to the operation of the system 10. To that end, the controller 20 includes the memory 23, which may include internal memory, and/or the controller 20 may be otherwise connected to external memory, such as a database or server. The internal memory and/or external memory may include, but are not limited to including, one or more of read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a portable memory, and the like. Such memory media are examples of nontransitory memory media. Examples of machine readable media, internal memory, and external memory are discussed in more detail below, with reference to
As discussed above, the system 10 of
The airfoil 200 includes, at least, a first skin 210 and a non-flight support structure 220. Further, in some examples, the airfoil 200 includes internal ribbing 230. Dimensional characteristics of each of the skin 210, the non-flight support structure 220, and internal ribbing are included in a three-dimensional (3-D) plan 22 for manufacturing the airfoil 200, via the system 10 and/or method 100. As depicted in
Returning now to the method 100 of
The method 100 further includes, at block 130, configuring one or more of the skin dimensions 24, the support dimensions 26, and/or the ribbing dimensions 28 based on build environment characteristics associated with the additive manufacturing process for the airfoil 200, used during fabrication of the airfoil 200 by the 3-D printer 50. To that end, the dimensions 24, 26, 28 may be configured to provide greater tolerances for heat absorption during fabrication by the 3-D printer 50, such that part failure and/or buckling of the skin 210 may be avoided due to optimized distribution of heat during the build process. Further still, one or more of the dimensions 24, 26, 28 may be configured to provide build support during layer-wise production of the airfoil 200 at the 3-D printer 50, via specific structural alterations and/or plans, as discussed in more detail below. Even further still, one or more of the dimensions 24, 26, 28 may be configured to provide egress, from interior cavities and/or volumes of the airfoil 200, for excess powdered material 64 used during fabrication of the airfoil 200. Failure to remove excess powdered material 64 can lead to improper build characteristics.
To that end, at block 120, the support dimensions 26 for the non-vehicular support structure 26 are configured to become configured support dimensions 34. A “non-vehicular” support structure refers to a portion (e.g., the non-vehicular support structure 220) of the airfoil 200 that is 3-D printed, in conjunction with the airfoil 200, as a whole, for build support purposes; however, prior to use of the airfoil 200 as part of an aircraft or other vehicle, the non-vehicular portion (e.g., the non-vehicular support structure 220) of the airfoil 200 is removed from the other elements of the airfoil 200. For example, as discussed above, the non-vehicular support structure 220 may be removed via use of an EDM device 75, such as an EDM wire, to effectively cut the non-vehicular support structure 220 from the airfoil 200 by heated wire, to detach the non-vehicular support structure 220.
The support dimensions 26 are configured such that the airfoil 200 is capable of maintaining proper build characteristics based on environmental characteristics associated with an additive manufacturing process of airfoil 200, by, for example, the 3-D printer 50, based on the 3-D plan 22. Such “environmental characteristics” may be any properties of an environment in which the airfoil 200 is built, such as ambient and/or working temperatures from the additive manufacturing process, surface temperatures of the airfoil 200 during the build, chemical properties within the 3-D printer 50, heat absorption and/or conduction properties of elements of the 3-D printer 50 (e.g., the base plate 52), heat transfer and/or absorption characteristics of the materials used for the build of the airfoil 200 (e.g., the powdered material 62), and/or any other ambient or working conditions associated with the additive manufacturing process for the airfoil 200. To that end, the dimensions 26 of the non-vehicular support structure 220 may be configured to transfer heat and/or distribute heat amongst the airfoil 200 and any components thereof
Turning specifically to
In the non-limiting example of the rigid mount 222 shown in
In an alternative to the “hard” or rigid mount 222 based, non-vehicular support structure 220 illustrated in
To that end, the flexible mount 223 is configured to be “flexible,” in so much as one or more tabs 228 of the flexible mount 223, defined by a plurality of slits 227 in the flexible mount 223, may expand or contract based on heat transferred to the flexible mount 223. Therefore, utilizing the flexible mount 223, tolerances for different heat magnitude during different stages of the additive manufacturing process of the 3-D printer 50 may be accounted for. Further, the tabs 228 may function as a “spring,” to allow support for the airfoil 200, between elements thereof and the base plate 52, when absorbing and/or transferring heat away from vulnerable and/or heat sensitive portions of the airfoil 200. Thus, utilizing the flexible mount 223 may allow for flexible strain relief, from unwanted, excessive heating of portions of the airfoil 200, during fabrication via an additive manufacturing process.
Returning to the method 100 of
Turning now to the partial, cross-sectional view of the airfoil 200 illustrated in
During additive manufacturing fabrication, it has been found that if all the ribs 232 are designed having a consistent height across the entire length of the rib 232, such ribs 232 risk causing the skin 210 to deform and/or buckle due to stresses of the manufacturing process. In other words, if the gradient or rate of change in the height of a rib 232 rapidly shifts from thick to thin, then the skin 210 may be at risk of part failure and/or deformation during additive manufacturing. Therefore, one or more of the ribs 232, such as the exemplary first rib 232A, may be designed to have a variable height that rises or falls, over the course of a length of the rib 232A, wherein the gradient of change in height (AH) is configured for proper support of the skin 210 and proper formation of the internal ribbing 230, during fabrication.
Returning now to
To that end, in some examples, the excess powder may exit the airfoil 200 via further passages and/or other means of powder egress configured into the design of the non-vehicular support structure 220. For example, as can be seen in
As depicted in
With the 3-D plan 22 configured, the controller 20 may generate (e.g. determine) fabrication instructions 40 based on the configured 3-D plan 22, as depicted in block 140. Accordingly, the fabrication instructions 40 may be or may include any 3-D printing or additive manufacturing instructions known in the art. For example, the fabrication instructions 40 may be a transformed version of the 3-D plan 22, wherein the 3-D plan 22 is transformed into cross-sections which are then used to form successive layers of the airfoil 200 by the 3-D printer 50. Such fabrication instructions 40 may include toolpath instructions for the 3-D printer 50, generated by such cross-sections and/or the 3-D plan 22, as a whole.
The 3-D printer 50 then fabricates the control surface (e.g., the airfoil 200), as depicted in block 150, based, for example, on the fabrication instructions 40. By manufacturing vehicle control surfaces (e.g., the airfoil 200) in accordance with the method 100 and/or the system 10, it is possible to manufacture vehicle control surfaces as light weight, single-piece control surfaces with, for example, hollow internal pocket(s). Such light weight, single-piece designs may have, previously, been impossible to produce, when using prior, known, 34) printing or additive manufacturing systems and methods.
In some examples, fabrication of the airfoil 200 may include sub-steps intended to create a more robust build for the airfoil 200, such as the sub-steps represented by blocks 152, 154. At block 154, fabrication of the airfoil 200 may include controlling cooling of the build for the airfoil 200, during fabrication, by either controlling temperatures of the entirety of the interior of the 3-D printer 50 or selectively controlling temperatures of selective volumes within the 3-D printer 50. In such examples, the system 10 may include a cooling device 70 (e.g., a freezer, an air conditioner, a liquid coolant distribution system, and any other cooling devices known in the art) to selectively cool the 3-D printer 50 and any build objects therein.
Further, to improve the structural soundness of the build for the airfoil 200 during fabrication, at block 154, fabrication may include performing hot isostatic pressing on the build for the airfoil 200, within the 3-D printer 50, during or after one or both of a completed build state for the airfoil 200 and a partially complete build state for the airfoil 200. For example, hot isostatic pressing may occur in between builds of successive layers of the build for the airfoil. Hot isostatic pressing is used to reduce the porosity of metals and improve metalloid characteristics. Such processes involve subjecting the metallic component to elevated temperatures and isostatic gas pressures within the 3-D printer 50. To achieve hot isostatic pressing, as shown in
After the airfoil 200 is fabricated, as a single piece, the method 100 may continue to detach the non-vehicular support structure 220 from the airfoil 200, as depicted in block 160. As discussed above, such detachment may be accomplished using the EDM device 75. With the non-vehicular support structure 220 removed, the airfoil 200 has been fabricated as one single-piece structure, via additive manufacturing, with no need for further assembly.
As depicted in
The processor 21 may include a local memory 82 and is in communication with a main memory including a read only memory 83 and a random access memory 84 via a bus 88. The random access memory 84 may be implemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM) and/or any other type of random access memory device. The read only memory 83 may be implemented by a hard drive, flash memory and/or any other desired type of memory device.
Further, the controller 20 may also include an interface circuit 85. The interface circuit 85 may be implemented by any type of interface standard, such as, for example, an Ethernet interface, a universal serial bus (USB), and/or a PCI express interface. One or more input device(s) 44 may be connected to the interface circuit 85. The input device(s) 25 permit a user to enter data and commands into the processor 21. The input device(s) 25 can be implemented by, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, a track-pad, a trackball, and/or a voice recognition system. One or more output devices 86 may also be connected to the interface circuit 85. The output devices 86 can be implemented by, for example, display devices for associated data (e.g., a liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube display (CRT), etc.).
The controller 20 may include one or more network transceivers 89 for connecting to a network 91, such as the Internet, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a personal network, or any other network for connecting the controller 20 to the 3-D printer 50, one or more other controllers, and/or other network capable devices. As such, the controller 20 may be embodied by a plurality of controllers 20 for providing instructions to the 3-D printer 50.
As mentioned above the controller 20 may be used to execute machine readable instructions. For example, the controller 20 may execute machine readable instructions to calibrate the 3-D printer 50 and/or to direct the 3-D printer 50 to print the airfoil 200. In such examples, the machine readable instructions comprise a program for execution by a processor, such as the processor 21, shown in the example controller 20. The program may be embodied in software stored on a tangible computer readable medium. Such computer readable medium as used herein refers to any non-transitory medium or combination of media that participates in providing instructions to a processor for execution. Such a medium comprises all computer readable media except for a transitory, propagating signal. For example, such computer readable medium may include a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a hard drive, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a Blu-ray disk, or any other memory associated with the controller 20.
Claims
1. A method (100) of manufacturing a vehicle control surface (200), the vehicle control surface including, at least, a non-vehicular support structure (220) and a skin (210), the method comprising:
- generating (120), using an electronic controller (20), a three-dimensional plan (22) for the vehicle control surface, the three-dimensional plan including, at least, non-vehicular support structure dimensions (26), for the non-vehicular support structure, and skin dimensions (24) for the skin;
- configuring (130) the dimensions of the non-vehicular support structure based on build environment characteristics associated with an additive manufacturing process of the control surface, the additive manufacturing process based on the three-dimensional plan; and
- fabricating (150) the vehicle control surface, using the additive manufacturing process, based on the three-dimensional plan.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising detaching (160) the non-vehicular support structure from the vehicle control surface and any components thereof
3. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the dimensions of the non-vehicular support structure includes designing the non-vehicular support structure as a rigid body mount (222), existing between a base plate, used in the additive manufacturing process, and the skin and any additional components of the vehicle control surface, the rigid body mount configured to conduct heat away from manufactured portions of the skin during the additive manufacturing process.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein configuring the dimensions of the non-vehicular support structure includes configuring filleting in the rigid body mount for manufacturing stress relief.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the dimensions of the non-vehicular support structure includes designing the support structure to include a plurality of tabs (228) at a first end of the vehicle control surface, the plurality of tabs conducting heat to distribute heat from the vehicle control surface during fabrication via the additive manufacturing process.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein configuring the dimensions of the support structure includes configuring the plurality of tabs for flexible strain relief.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle control surface further includes internal ribbing (230) operatively coupled with the skin and configured as structural support for the skin,
- wherein the three-dimensional plan further includes internal ribbing characteristics (28) for the internal ribbing, and
- the method further comprising configuring the dimensions of the internal ribbing for providing structural support for the skin and based on the build environment characteristics associated with the additive manufacturing process.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein configuring the dimensions of the internal ribbing includes designing the internal ribbing to include egress passages (234) for removing excess powder during or after fabrication of the vehicle control surface, via the additive manufacturing process.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein configuring the dimensions of the non-vehicular support structure includes configuring the non-vehicular support structure to receive the excess powder, from the egress passages, for powder removal during or after fabrication via the additive manufacturing.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein configuring the dimensions of the support structure further includes altering a height of one or more of ribs of the internal in accordance with a gradual rate of cross sectional change, per a given distance, the gradual rate of cross sectional change being based on characteristics of the additive manufacturing process.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the gradual rate of cross sectional change is a substantially linear function of the height of the one or more ribs versus the length of the one or more ribs.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling (152) cooling of the vehicle control surface within an additive manufacturing environment wherein the additive manufacturing process is performed, during one or both of a completed build state for the vehicle control surface and a partially complete build state for the vehicle control surface, the cooling is configured to control residual stresses caused by the additive manufacturing process.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the additive manufacturing process is a selective laser sintering process including a series of layer-wise iterations, and
- wherein controlling cooling of the vehicle control surface includes controlling cooling after each of the series of layer-wise iterations to control residual stresses.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing hot isostatic pressing (154) on the vehicle control surface within an additive manufacturing environment, wherein the additive manufacturing process is performed, during or after one or both of a completed build state for the vehicle control surface and a partially complete build state for the vehicle control surface.
15. An airfoil (200) manufactured as a single workpiece in an additive manufacturing process, the airfoil comprising:
- a skin (210), the skin manufactured, via the additive manufacturing process, based on skin dimensions (24) for the skin, the skin dimensions being included in a three-dimensional plan (22) for the airfoil that is used in the additive manufacturing process; and
- a non-vehicular support structure (220), the support structure manufactured, via the additive manufacturing process, based on support structure dimensions (26) for the non-vehicular support structure, the non-vehicular support structure dimensions being included in the three-dimensional plan and configured based on build environment characteristics associated with the additive manufacturing process of the airfoil, the non-vehicular support structure being removable from airfoil upon completion of the additive manufacturing process.
16. The airfoil of claim 15, wherein the non-vehicular support structure includes a rigid body mount (222), the rigid body mount existing between a base plate (52), used in the additive manufacturing process, and the skin and any additional components of the airfoil, the rigid body mount being configured to conduct heat away from manufactured portions of the skin and any additional components of the airfoil, during the additive manufacturing process.
17. The airfoil of claim 16, wherein the non-vehicular support structure includes filleting in the rigid body mount for manufacturing stress relief.
18. The airfoil of claim 15, wherein the support structure includes a plurality of slits (226), the plurality of slits for conducting heat to distribute heat amongst the airfoil during fabrication via the additive manufacturing process.
19. The airfoil of claim 18, wherein the plurality of slits are configured for flexible strain relief during manufacture of the airfoil via the additive manufacturing process.
20. The airfoil of claim 15, further comprising internal ribbing (230) operatively coupled with the skin and configured as structural support for the skin, when the airfoil is in use, and configured based on build environment characteristics associated with the additive manufacturing process of the airfoil.
21. The airfoil of claim 20, wherein the internal ribbing defines egress passages (232) for removing excess powder during or after fabrication of the airfoil via the additive manufacturing process.
22. The airfoil of claim 21, wherein the non-vehicular support structure is configured to receive the excess powder from the egress passages, for powder removal during or after fabrication via the additive manufacturing process.
23. A system (10) for manufacturing a vehicle control surface (200) via an additive manufacturing process, the vehicle control surface including, at least, a non-vehicular support structure (220) and a skin (210), the system comprising:
- a controller (20), including a processor (21) and a memory (23), the controller configured to: generate (120) a three-dimensional plan (22) for the vehicle control surface (200), based on one or both of instructions stored on the memory and user input, the three-dimensional plan including, at least, non-vehicular support structure dimensions (26) for the support structure and skin dimensions (24) for the skin, configure (130) the dimensions of the non-vehicular support structure based on build environment characteristics associated with the additive manufacturing process, the additive manufacturing process based on the three-dimensional plan, and generate (140) fabrication instructions (40), based on the three-dimensional plan, for executing the additive manufacturing process; and
- a three-dimensional (3-D) printer (50) operatively associated with the controller, the 3-D printer including: a base plate (52) upon which a build (60) for the vehicle control surface rests during fabrication, a powder supply (66) for providing a powdered material to the base plate for each successive layer of the build, and a heat source (54) configured to selectively heat the powdered material to form the build, in a series of layer-wise iterations (62), and configured to operate in accordance with a toolpath for the heat source to selectively heat the powdered material, for each of the series of layer-wise iterations, the toolpath based, at least, on the fabrication instructions.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the 3-D printer further includes a cooling device (70), configured to control cooling of the build within the 3-D printer during one or both of a completed build state for the build and a partially complete build state for the build, the cooling of the build configured to control residual stresses caused by the additive manufacturing process.
25. The system of claim 24, wherein controlling cooling of the build includes controlling cooling after each of the series of layer-wise iterations to control residual stresses.
26. The system of claim 23, wherein the 3-D printer further includes a system (72) for hot isostatic pressing for performing hot isostatic pressing on the build, during one or both of a completed build state for the vehicle control surface and a partially complete build state for the vehicle control surface, the hot isostatic pressing system including:
- a temperature control (74) for managing the temperature within the 3-D printer during hot isostatic pressing,
- a gas source (76) for providing gas for isostatic pressing; and
- a gas controller (78) for controlling flow of the gas into the 3-D printer for hot isostatic pressing.
27. The system of claim 23, further comprising an electric discharge machining (EDM) device, configured to detach (160) the non-vehicular support structure from the vehicle control surface, upon completion of the additive manufacturing process.
28. The system of claim 23, wherein the vehicle control surface is an airfoil.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 18, 2017
Publication Date: Jan 24, 2019
Patent Grant number: 10571894
Applicant: The Boeing Company (Chicago, IL)
Inventors: Richard W. Aston (Brea, CA), Michael J. Langmack (Huntington Beach, CA), Matthew J. Herrmann (Rancho Palos, CA), Russell W. Cochran (Maryland Heights, MO), Philip R. Munoz (Foley, MO), Nicole M. Hastings (Redondo Beach, CA)
Application Number: 15/652,689